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US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by LordVarys: 6:18am On Feb 26, 2016
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/world/africa/us-plans-to-help-nigeria-in-war-on-boko-haram-terrorists.html?referer=


[b]DAKAR, Senegal — The Pentagon is poised to send dozens of Special Operations advisers to the front lines of Nigeria’s fight against the West African militant group Boko Haram, according to military officials, the latest deployment in conflicts with the Islamic State and its allies.

Their deployment would push American troops hundreds of miles closer to the battle that Nigerian forces are waging against an insurgency that has killed thousands of civilians in the country’s northeast as well as in neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon. By some measures, Boko Haram is the world’s deadliest terrorist group.

The deployment is a main recommendation of a recent confidential assessment by the top United States Special Operations commander for Africa, Brig. Gen. Donald C. Bolduc. If it is approved, as expected, by the Defense and State Departments, the Americans would serve only in noncombat advisory roles, military officials said.

Even as President Obama has drawn down the large American armies sent to Iraq and Afghanistan, he has relied heavily on Special Operations forces to train and advise local troops fighting the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and to carry out clandestine counterterrorism missions.[/b]

Already, about 50 American commandos are advising fighters battling the Islamic State in eastern Syria. Scores more in a new, secret kill-or-capture unit are hunting Islamic State militants in Iraq. The Pentagon has offered to send American advisers with Iraqi brigades on the battlefield instead of restricting them to bases inside Iraq. Dozens of American commandos are conducting surveillance missions in Libya and counterterrorism missions in Somalia.

“Rather than entangle U.S. combat forces on the ground, help build the capacity of regional forces to tackle their countries’ security challenges,” said Jennifer G. Cooke, Africa director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, who visited Nigeria last month. “Training and advising and perhaps imparting the lessons we learned the hard way is a good thing.”

Since taking office last year, Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, has vowed to pursue a military campaign against Boko Haram more vigorously than his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan. His shake-up of the military high command and new cooperation with neighboring countries has proved effective.


A Nigerian Army soldier in Lagos last year.STEFAN HEUNIS/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE — GETTY IMAGES
Mr. Buhari, a former general, has boasted of the military’s successes in wresting control of a huge portion of terrain from the group, declaring a “technical” victory late last year. But while the military has killed or captured thousands of militants and put an end to raids of villages by dozens or more fighters, the group has still carried out suicide attacks at a relentless pace in Nigeria and neighboring countries.

“Despite losing territory in 2015, Boko Haram will probably remain a threat to Nigeria throughout 2016 and will continue its terror campaign within the country and in neighboring Cameroon, Niger and Chad,” James R. Clapper, the director of national intelligence, told the House Intelligence Committee in Washington on Thursday.

To help combat this threat, Mr. Buhari has embraced American assistance, ending several years of tense relations that sank to new lows in 2014 when the United States blocked the sale of American-made Cobra attack helicopters to Nigeria from Israel, amid concerns about Nigeria’s protection of civilians when conducting military operations.

Groups like Human Rights Watch say the Nigerian military has at times burned hundreds of homes and committed other abuses as it battled Boko Haram and its presumed supporters.

Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States responded sharply at the time, accusing Washington of hampering the country’s effort to defeat Boko Haram. American officials also expressed hesitancy about sharing intelligence with the Nigerian military, fearing their ranks had been infiltrated by Boko Haram, an accusation that further infuriated Nigerian leaders.

In December 2014, Nigeria canceled the last stage of American training of a new Nigerian Army battalion that was to take the lead in fighting terrorists.

Those days now seem over. This month Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the State Department’s top diplomat for Africa, announced that the suspended training for the Nigerian infantry battalion would resume soon. Nigeria will provide the ammunition.

Two weeks ago, Gen. David M. Rodriguez, the head of the Pentagon’s Africa Command, hosted Nigeria’s chief of defense staff, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, at the American headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. “To contain Boko Haram, working together is a priority,” General Rodriguez told his visitor.

About 250 American service members have deployed to a military base in Garoua, Cameroon, where United States surveillance drones flying over northeastern Nigeria are sending imagery to African troops. Drone photos recently helped the Nigerian Army avoid a major Boko Haram ambush, according to a senior American intelligence officer.

Another breakthrough occurred late last year when General Bolduc, a Green Beret with multiple Special Forces tours in Afghanistan, visited Nigeria. When officials there asked for assistance, General Bolduc quickly sent an assessment team to conduct a 30-day review.

Among the team’s main recommendations was to position “small dozens” of Special Forces in Maiduguri, a major city in the northeast on the edge of the conflict, to help Nigerian military planners carry out a more effective counterterrorism campaign. British special forces are already assisting in the city. (The American military now maintains only a tiny intelligence cell in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.) Nigerian military officials have embraced the recommendations and are drawing up detailed requests, American officials said.

Just last fall, life seemed to be turning back to normal in the areas near Maiduguri, which for years had been the epicenter of Boko Haram’s activities. But after a major military operation uprooted the militants from nearby villages they had seized, many fighters have returned to Maiduguri to launch repeated suicide bombing operations in the city or in villages on the outskirts that have caused dozens of deaths.

At the end of last year, fighters attacked the city with rocket-propelled grenades and several suicide bombs. Residents say they eye one another with suspicion, especially women wearing religious gowns, fearful that explosives may be hidden underneath.

These relentless attacks have put more pressure on Nigeria and its neighbors to marshal their forces against a common enemy.

After taking office last year, Mr. Buhari began forging relationships with the presidents of neighboring countries to establish information-sharing and to build trust between his nation and Niger, Cameroon and Chad. But grouping the four nations together to share information and untangling decades of mistrust among them have proved harder.

A regional task force established by the countries last year has largely stalled amid lingering distrust and differing views about the threat. Less than half of the task force’s $700 million budget has been raised, and sinking oil prices have hurt the economies of Chad and Nigeria, Ms. Cooke said in congressional testimony this week.

Still, working together has yielded victories.

Earlier this month, the Cameroonians teamed up with the Nigerian military as part of a joint operation on Nigerian soil just across the border in the far north, killing more than 160 Boko Haram fighters, dismantling a logistics hub for the fighters and destroying explosive devices, according to officials there.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by HiddenShadow: 6:19am On Feb 26, 2016
If BH has being defeated, why ask for US help.

57 Likes 2 Shares

Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Nobody: 6:19am On Feb 26, 2016
To do what? Well, think they are already in Nigeria. But why this sudden interest in Nigeria when the activities of Boko Haram have waned cosiderably after the emergence of a Nigerian President from the north? We are yet to know the real reason behind the fall out between GEJ govt and Obama.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by LoveMachine(m): 6:21am On Feb 26, 2016
When America comes they don't leave...

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by tayebest(m): 6:22am On Feb 26, 2016
should i be happy for this NEWS?? undecided undecided

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Aufbauh(m): 6:24am On Feb 26, 2016
Gradually and surely we are seeing the results of the 'junketting President'.
Where someone went to and was rejected, another MAN went to same place and was accepted and supported. This is what we called presidential grace and that's what makes the difference.
Though not a good news for naysayers especially the IPOBians.

37 Likes 2 Shares

Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by caselessogbuagu: 6:27am On Feb 26, 2016
And they say BUHARI's trips are about tea-party; no results.


Now we know who's lying.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Progressive01(m): 6:28am On Feb 26, 2016
Ali Modu Sheriff would be sweating in his pants now. The days of PDP military wing are numbered.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by caselessogbuagu: 6:28am On Feb 26, 2016
HiddenShadow:
If BH has being defeated, why ask for US help.

undecided

"technically defeated" is the term.


If you are thirsty and you drink a bottle of water and your thirst is quenched, does that mean you don't need water again?

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Nobody: 6:28am On Feb 26, 2016
Aufbauh:
Gradually and surely we are seeing the results of the 'junketting President'.
Though not a good news for naysayers especially the IPOBians.

U are hoping that America will help u quell IPOB or any other aggrieved group? A shameless way to accept that ur govt is impotent. What a coward u are.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Pidggin(f): 6:31am On Feb 26, 2016
US does not help any country without gaining something in return.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Aufbauh(m): 6:33am On Feb 26, 2016
kaorama:


[s]U are hoping that America will help u quell IPOB or any other aggrieved group? A shameless way to accept that ur govt is impotent. What a coward u are[/s].

Suspected IPOBian!

25 Likes 1 Share

Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Khd95(m): 6:33am On Feb 26, 2016
US pls do as a small favor,just gerraraher mehn shiisadsad


is it when the war has been ''technically won" that u now want to ''send in troops"


Boko haram is technically defeated-alh lai- cool

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by SeverusSnape(m): 6:34am On Feb 26, 2016
Aufbauh:
Gradually and surely we are seeing the results of the 'junketting President'.
Where someone went to and was rejected, another MAN went to same place and was accepted and supported. This is what we called presidential grace and that's what makes the difference.
Though not a good news for naysayers especially the IPOBians.
The Dullard once said "It's a shame that we ask for help from other countries to combat insurgency". That man is a fool, Seriously.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by BenBruce4Presdt(f): 6:37am On Feb 26, 2016
They don't need to waste their time, Boko leader, their commander and their founder is Buhari..

Boko Haram is dead.. .the remaining ones Now are just the misguided elements that got over drowned in power.. .

But they will soon round them up.

Most of them has been granted Amnesty and integrated into the Army....

That group were the ones that deciminatd the Shiites as part of their Dialogue agreements.
Buratai was also the commander and one of the main Oga for Boko Haram.

Nigerians do you remember the Place called Orange Market in MARARABA NASARAWA STATE where the first discovered a Boko member with Millions of Dollars in cash.. That place is Buratai house, but the media and the presidency intentionally skipped that.


Boko Haram case is closed.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by SeverusSnape(m): 6:37am On Feb 26, 2016
caselessogbuagu:


undecided

"technically defeated" is the term.


If you are thirsty and you drink a bottle of water and your thirst is quenched, does that mean you don't need water again?
The Dullardist in chief once said it's a shame for other countries to help us combat terrorism. Why is Buhari such a foolish hypocrite?

Watch as Zombies praise this, but they also praised B0ohari when he made the earlier statement.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by diasporaman(m): 6:37am On Feb 26, 2016
Why now? When the boko haram boys has been grossly decimated by the Nigerian army. They want to take glory in our story.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by SeverusSnape(m): 6:38am On Feb 26, 2016
Pritycrystal say something kiss
Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Progressive01(m): 6:42am On Feb 26, 2016
Pidggin:
US does not help any country without gaining something in return.
No country helps any country without gaining something in return. It is how things work in diplomatic circles.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by caselessogbuagu: 6:45am On Feb 26, 2016
kaorama:
To do what? Well, think they are already in Nigeria. But why this sudden interest in Nigeria when the activities of Boko Haram have waned cosiderably after the emergence of a Nigerian President from the north? We are yet to know the real reason behind the fall out between GEJ govt and Obama.
Because he's buffoonish and has ineffectually displayed his buffoonery.

9 Likes 2 Shares

Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Anticabal: 6:45am On Feb 26, 2016
You mean the US are coming to fight Buhari's boko brothers. Just don't give guns to the sunni baboons and monkeys in uniform.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by babyfaceafrica: 6:47am On Feb 26, 2016
Progressive01:
No country helps any country without gaining something in return. It is how things work in diplomatic circles.
that is why they lost the civil war..ipods don't want to give anything!!....it does not work like that in diplomatic circles

3 Likes

Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by eleko1: 6:48am On Feb 26, 2016
Good cool.They are welcome cool
Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Siberia101: 6:48am On Feb 26, 2016
BenBruce4Presdt:
They don't need to waste their time, Boko leader, their commander and their founder is Buhari..

Boko Haram is dead.. .the remaining ones Now are just the misguided elements that got over drowned in power.. .

But they will soon round them up.

Most of them has been granted Amnesty and integrated into the Army....

That group were the ones that deciminatd the Shiites as part of their Dialogue agreements.
Buratai was also the commander and one of the main Oga for Boko Haram.

Nigerians do you remember the Place called Orange Market in MARARABA NASARAWA STATE where the first discovered a Boko member with Millions of Dollars in cash.. That place is Buratai house, but the media and the presidency intentionally skipped that.


Boko Haram case is closed.

The last time I checked the PDP chairman nominated a Bokoharam kingpin as his commissioner on religious affairs...

A One time National Security Adviser said "PDP is Bokoharam and Bokoharam is PDP" we all knew what happened to him months after that statement

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by SeverusSnape(m): 6:51am On Feb 26, 2016
Siberia101:


The last time I checked the PDP chairman nominated a Bokoharam kingpin as his commissioner on religious affairs...

A One time National Security Adviser said "PDP is Bokoharam and Bokoharam is PDP" we all knew what happened to him months after that statement
Do you know that buhari the dull man once said "An attack on Bokoharam is an attack on the north".?

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Progressive01(m): 6:52am On Feb 26, 2016
SeverusSnape:

The Dullardist in chief once said it's a shame for other countries to help us combat terrorism. Why is Buhari such a foolish hypocrite?
You people lie to yourselves so much you tend to believe your own lies.

What he said was that it is regrettable but smaller countries like Cameroon and Niger are the ones leading the fight against Boko Haram. He didn't say it is a shame getting help/forming a coalition.

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Progressive01(m): 6:55am On Feb 26, 2016
SeverusSnape:

Do you know that buhari the dull man once said "An attack on Bokoharam is an attack on the north".?
Do you know Jonathan, the Clueless Ineffectual Buffoon, once said Boko Haram are his siblings and as such he can't send the army to wipe out his family (BH)??

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Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by Raphael81(m): 6:55am On Feb 26, 2016
do we really need za Americans

1 Like

Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by BenBruce4Presdt(f): 6:56am On Feb 26, 2016
Siberia101:


The last time I checked the PDP chairman nominated a Bokoharam kingpin as his commissioner on religious affairs...

A One time National Security Adviser said "PDP is Bokoharam and Bokoharam is PDP" we all knew what happened to him months after that statement



Whether it's PDP or PPP or APC or whatever, I don't care.
All I am telling you now is the fact.. Buhari is the man behind the mask of BokoHaram..

Sheriff, El-Rufai and Buhari were their before until they kick Sheriff out.. .

Buratai was the commander of the main faction that negotiated and lay down arms immediately Buhari won election and he was immediately elevated as COAS as part of the Dialogue agreements.

This is a fact.. Stop defending these people..

13 Likes 3 Shares

Re: US To Send Soldiers To Nigeria: New York Times by SeverusSnape(m): 6:56am On Feb 26, 2016
Progressive01:
You people lie to yourselves so much you tend to believe your own lies.

What he said was that it is regrettable but smaller countries like Cameroon and Niger are the ones leading the fight against Boko Haram. He didn't say it is a shame getting help/forming a coalition.
Hehehehehehehehehehe grin grin

Listen to your senseless analogy, If neighboring countries don't help, Then who will?... The last time I checked, the Neighbouring countries know the terrain even more than the Nigerian Army.

Well, I'm not surprised you came up with this lame defence, Zombies will defend anything.

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